Aluminum

This information has the ability to potentially ruin elements of the plot for the reader. Proceed with caution if you have not read this book.

Aluminum is the internal enhancement pulling metal. An Allomancer burning aluminum will make all of his metal reserves vanish.[1] Feruchemists can use aluminum to store identity, and when used as a Hemalurgic spike, aluminum steals enhancement Allomancy. It is known as Ralkalest or the unForgeable metal in the Rose Empire on Sel.[2]

Aluminum metal (and some of its alloys) are "Allomantically inert" - they cannot be Pushed or Pulled, and can shield people from emotional Allomancy.[3] Aluminum generates no atium shadows[4] and can create dead zones within cadmium and bendalloy bubbles, where the shielded area is not included within the time bubble.[5] It also interferes with Feruchemical healing, by making it impossible for wounds to heal around the aluminum until it is removed from the body. There is a similar effect on pewter Allomancy.[6]

Aluminum has been confirmed to have strange effects to all magic systems, is magically inert, and will act as an Investiture sink.[7]

Contents

A aluminum Misting is known as an Aluminum Gnat. Burning aluminum causes the body to instantly metabolize its metal reserves without any other effect.[8] As such, an aluminum Misting serves no purpose and gains nothing from their powers.[3] Since aluminum can shield against emotional Allomancy, those who can afford to, often wear hats with aluminum lining.[9]

An Allomancer would be able to heal from the withering inflicted by a Shade by burning aluminum.[10]

It may be possible for an aluminum savant to cleanse their spirit of unwanted effects of Investiture.[11]

An aluminum Ferring is known as a Trueself. Aluminum is used to store "spiritual sense of identity." This ability is not fully understood, and is rarely discussed outside of Terris communities.[3] A Feruchemist who fills an aluminummind to the point where they have no identity and then fills another metalmind is able produce a metalmind that anyone can use. In a similar manner, a Feruchemist may be able to tap another person's metalminds by filling their own aluminummind completely.[12]

In the Mistborn Adventure Game, aluminum stores "personal identity". While a Feruchemist is filling their aluminummind they become, "bland, indecisive, mildly forgettable, and emotionally pliable -- essentially, less defined and distinct as an individual," and their "tastes, opinions, loyalties, and the like," become, "much more flexible." When a Feruchemist taps their aluminummind they become "a more fully realized version of [themselves], reinforcing deeply-held convictions and allegiances, and dramatically boosting self-worth. The Feruchemist becomes resistant to brainwashing and manipulation, including Allomancy, Feruchemy, and Hemalurgy that influences [their] emotions." The Feruchemist also experiences a boost in confidence and recovers from mental hardships sooner.

The Feruchemist also has the effects of the world on their personality undone. Tapping an aluminummind reverts their personality to as it was at some point in the past.

Some Feruchemists will store memories in a coppermind before tapping their aluminumminds to gain a whole new perspective on those memories.

Guns and bullets made from aluminum are highly effective (albeit expensive) because they cannot be Pushed, Pulled, or even detected. Aluminum bullets are actually composed of an allomantically inert alloy of aluminum since the ballistics of a pure aluminum bullet would not work.[14]

Items can be Soulcast into aluminum.[7] However, aluminum resists attempts to soulcast it into other essences.[18]Shardblades are unable to cut aluminum through magical means but would be able to cut it physically, like a conventional blade, if the aluminum were thin enough.[19] Aluminum can block spanreed communication, and can prevent Soulcasting from being detected by others.[20] Aluminum cannot be affected by the surges Adhesion or Gravitation.[21]